Oxford Essential Dictionary
first name
(British) (American given name) noun
the first of your names that come before your family name:
'What is Mr Carter's first name?' 'Paul.'
Look at the note at name.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
first name
ˈfirst name BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. the name or names that come before your family name SYN Christian name ⇨ surname, last name:
Her first name’s Helen, but I don’t know her surname.
2. be on first name terms (with somebody) British English, be on a first name basis American English to know someone well enough to call them by their first name
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
first name
ˈfirst name [first name first names] (also ˈgiven name especially in NAmE) noun
a name that was given to you when you were born, that comes before your family name
• His first name is Tom and his surname is Green.
• Please give all your first names.
• (BrE) to be on first-name terms with sb (= to call them by their first name as a sign of a friendly informal relationship)
• (NAmE) to be on a first-name basis
See also: given name
Culture:
names
Apart from their surname or last name, most British and American children are given two personal names by their parents, a first name and a middle name. These names are sometimes called Christian names or given names. Some people have only one given name, a few have three or more. Friends and members of a family who are of similar age usually call one another by their first names. In some families young people now also call their aunts and uncles and even their parents by their first names. Outside the family, the expression be on first name terms suggests that the people concerned have a friendly, informal relationship
When writing their name Americans commonly give their first name and their middle initial, e.g. George M Cohan. Both given names are used in full only on formal occasions, e.g. when people get married. In Britain many people sign their name on forms etc. using the initials of both their given names and their surname, e.g. J E Brooks, but may write Joanna Brooks at the end of a letter. The full name (= all given names and surname) is usually only required on official forms.
Parents usually decide on given names for their children before they are born. In some families the oldest boy is given the same name as his father. In the US the word junior or senior, or a number, is added after the name and surname to make it clear which person is being referred to. For example, the son of William Jones Sr (Senior) would be called William Jones Jr (Junior), and his son would be called William Jones III (‚William Jones the third’).
Many popular names come from the Bible, e.g. Jacob, Joshua, Matthew, Mary, Rebecca and Sarah, though this does not imply that the people who choose them are religious. Other people give their children the name of somebody they admire, such as a famous sports personality, or a film or pop star. In Britain the names William and Harry became common again after the sons of Prince Charles were given these names. In the US Chelsea was not a common name for a girl until President Bill Clinton’s daughter Chelsea came to public attention.
Names such as David, Michael, Paul and Robert for boys and Catherine, Elizabeth and Jane for girls remain popular for many years. Others, e.g. Darrell, Darren, Wayne, Chloe, Jade and Zara, are fashionable for only a short period. Names such as Albert, Herbert, Wilfrid, Doris, Gladys and Joyce are now out of fashion and are found mainly among older people. Some older names come back into fashion and there are now many young women called Amy, Emma, Harriet, Laura and Sophie. The birth announcements columns in newspapers give an indication of the names which are currently popular. In Britain these have included Jack, Joshua and Thomas for boys and Emily, Ellie and Chloe for girls and in the US Jacob, Michael and Joshua for boys and Emily, Emma and Madison for girls
People from Wales, Scotland or Ireland, or those who have a cultural background from outside Britain, may choose from an additional set of names. In the US Jews, African Americans or people of Latin American origin may also choose different names.
Example Bank:
• Please call me by my first name.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
first name
first name noun [C]
the name that was given to you when you were born and that comes before your family name:
It can be rude to call someone by their first name if they are much older or more important than you.
given name
given name US noun [C] (UK first name)
the name which is chosen for you at birth and which is not your family name:
Her family name is Smith and her given names are Mary Elizabeth.
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
first name
first names
N-COUNT: usu poss N
Your first name is the first of the names that were given to you when you were born. You can also refer to all of your names except your surname as your first names.
Her first name was Mary. I don't know what her surname was.
●
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR with n If two people are on first-name terms, they know each other well enough to call each other by their first names, rather than having to use a more formal title.
The two were said to have been on first-name terms...
Jim has been in the company for many years, and is on first-name terms with many of the board directors.